April 11, 2012

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LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Wycliffe Gordon Quintet will perform in concert Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg. The program will feature music from "Hello Pops, A Tribute to Louis Armstrong", Gordon's most recent CD release.

This performance, which is free and open to the public, is the final event in the spring Janet Weis Jazz Cabaret Series, a series is made possible by funding from the Weis family.

Gordon began playing the trombone at age 12. While attending Florida A & M University, he attended a workshop given by Wynton Marsalis, who was so impressed by Gordon's talent that he invited him to join his septet.

Bucknell senior Alex Apfel and juniors Mislav Forrester and Nate Fanzone also will be featured as guest artists for this performance.

A former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and The Gully Low Jazz Band, Gordon has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at The Kennedy Center" Series and has played with many jazz luminaries, including Dizzy Gillespie, Branford Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Flanagan and Shirley Horn.

His numerous recordings include 10 solo CDs and three co-leader CDs, of which the latest are "Cone's Coup," "Standards Only" and "The Rhythm of My Mind" (with Jay Leonhart).

A gifted composer and arranger, he was commissioned to compose a vibrant new score for the 1925 classic silent film "Body and Soul" (notable as the screen debut of Paul Robeson), which was premiered at the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra's 2000-01 season opening night performance at Avery Fisher Hall.

His compositions have been performed by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, the Brass Band of Battle Creek and numerous other ensembles, and performed in programs throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Gordon's television appearances have included the Grammy Awards, the PBS special documentary "Swingin' with the Duke," and two Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He also appeared in Ken Burns' documentary "Jazz." Other television appearances include "A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert" and "Live from Lincoln Center: The Juilliard School at 100 Years."

"Wycliffe Gordon is known as a terrific musical ambassador and one of the great interpreters of America's music," said Kathryn Maguet, executive director of the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell. "His unmatched mastery, exceptional technique and signature sound have earned him a solid place in the world of jazz. We are thrilled to bring this top-notch musician and his quintet to Lewisburg."

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